While outdoor watering bans continue for much of the region during a water shortage, the Town of McLennan has reduced the restriction to a conditional outdoor watering ban.

Lifted last week, the ban permits McLennan residents with even-numbered residences to water on even-numbered days and odd-numbered residences on odd-numbered days between 6 and 10 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m.

"Conservation of water is still required," said Mayor John Kachuk.

The ban was eased since the town is able to increase its water supply as a result of dredging the Winagami-Girouxville canal, he said.

"We can run double pumps on the canal," said Kachuk.

This is allowing other municipalities to pump into their reservoirs with Donnelly already done, he said, with Falher currently filling its reservoir, while McLennan is last on the list.

"We'll hopefully get our turn within one week to 10 days," Kachuk said last Thursday. "We're not out of the woods yet, but certainly we're well on our way."

As mayor, he echoed his appreciation to residents in McLennan and across the region for being very cooperative in complying with the water restriction.

While recent rains have helped water gardens and yards, it hasn't helped the water flows, said Gerard Nicolet, Administrator for the Town of Falher.

Although flows were trickling in to Falher's reservoir early last week, he was expecting the flows to increase last Friday.

"Then we will pump continuously from Falher's pumphouse," said Nicolet. "After we start, it will be about two weeks before we get sufficient water supply into our reservoir."

That means the ban may be near an end in the next two weeks.

"When we have most of the reservoir filled, then we will lift the ban," said Nicolet.

Although town staff would be satisfied with 50 per cent capacity, council wants the reservoir fuller before lifting the ban.

"We shouldn't give up until we're full," Councillor Philippe Dube said during a special meeting of Falher council July 29.

Since the outdoor watering ban was initiated July 12, residents of Falher have fully complied which has been significantly reflected in consumption rates.

During the ban, 180 cubic meters of water has been consumed on an average day, a 20 per cent reduction from normal consumption, said Nicolet.

Mayor Margaret Tardif said many people questioned why water was not pumped in May and June.

But she said, the municipality did not have required permits approved by Alberta Environment.

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